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Parthenocissus himalayana (Royle) Planch.

Modern name

Parthenocissus semicordata (Wall.) Planch.

Synonyms

Ampelopsis himalayana Royle

A vigorous deciduous climber, with semi-woody, glabrous young stems; the tendrils terminated by clinging disks. Leaves composed of three leaflets, each shortly stalked and borne at the end of a slender, common stalk 2 to 5 in. long. Central leaflet ovate, oval, or obovate; the side ones very obliquely ovate (two or three times as much blade on one side of the midrib as on the other), and often somewhat heart-shaped at the base on one side only. They are all abruptly tapered at the apex, toothed, dark green and glabrous above, paler, slightly glaucous beneath, with a few short hairs on the midrib only; 2 to 6 in. long, 114 to 4 in. wide. Fruits globose, 14 in. wide, in loose clusters several times forked.

Native of the Himalaya up to 11,000 ft. It is a rather tender species, and only thrives well on a wall. Its leaves change to rich red in autumn.

P. semicordata (Wall.) Planch. Vitis semicordata Wall.; V. himalayana var. semicordata (Wall.) M. A. Lawson – This is perhaps not specifically distinct from P. himalayana, but it has smaller leaves and its young shoots and the undersurface of the leaves are bristly. It is perhaps a form from higher altitudes.


Genus

Parthenocissus

Other species in the genus